VS FiberglassFlambe

Just received these disturbing pix from my friend John that purchased my mint VS a few years ago.
First he had the MexCrap TM motor blow on him at a little over 1K miles on the clock, then VS installed a another 1915 that wasn't much better and kept breaking down after John spent 1000'$ in towing & back & forth trips to VS and now the ultimate breakdown.
I'm pretty sick to my stomach....~R

That's awful. Any idea how the fire started?
ed

Ouch - doesn't look like its from an engine fire though --- more of a garage on fire? Good reason to carry a couple fire extinguishers on board (one is NOT enough).

Holy s#%t.I am sick to my stomach. Guys.....I do not feel .....good. I.....got.....to...go.

So what are you saying Rick? Are you blaming VS for this or are you just showing us what can happen to a glass car if it catches on fire......
I had a VW catch on fire one time myself....They are prone to it for some reason....

No car on the road should be without an extinguisher, at all times.

I used to Judge concours and we wouldn't let an owner start a car for its safety inspection without an extinguisher....

The German TUV requires a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in every car --- and its checked as part of their inspections. Heck, in US folks don't even have a serviceable spare, jack and often lug wrench. I recently went around and trashed several old red extinguishers where the full gauge had dropped. One securely mounted in the "cockpit" where you can quickly get to it is a necessity. This one looks more like the fuseblock caught fire or maybe a front mounted gas pump/filter. Anyone need a good rear 12" section? That's about all that's useable.

Looking at your before and after pictures breaks my heart; the car looked so nice....it hurts but can you imagine how much more it would hurt if it were a real Speedster such as what happened in that train accident some time ago?

Rick what are you saying here.. first you say it was "Mint" when YOU sold it to your freind, then you call the motor crapola.. Did it all of a sudden change before his eyes or did he change it out. Looks like VS did there typical Customer service and worked with your buddy to get him back on the road.. Are you trying to point a finger at VS? Please remember who sold it! We take risks every day we wake up my freind and nothing in life is a for-sure thing! And I hate to see bad things happen to your bud's car just like you do I am sure of that too... but let's not start throwing stones...

Speedster "D"

David,
I obviously didn't know that VS was installing POS Mexican motors or I wouldn't have bought it with one. Sometimes one learns too late in life unless one is flawless like you. Do a search Dude & you'll find several motors going South with low mileage (a crap shoot). Not just mine after I sold it.
Carbs backfired & set the car on fire. Lid was opened immediately and fire extiguisher used but picture is self explanatory as to how quickly it spread to the front. Again, not the first replica burnt to the ground by carb(S) backfiring.
Shittt happens but it still kills me to see what happen to a car that I cherished.
Oh... I still remember when this site was cool with all the old timers like Jim, Paul, Bill etc. I think I'll join them.

Rick and to your friend John,

I'm sorry for your loss. I remembered seeing your car when you had posted it for sale. I loved the color most of all. Glad no one was hurt. Hope insurance will provide for a new and better replacement...

Rick,
That was a beautiful car, I would have the same feelings of loss for any car I loved, whether I still owned it or not.
Sad, but should be a good reminder to everyone to check their gas hoses for wear.

-=theron

check their gas hoses for wear.
check their gas hoses for wear.
check their gas hoses for wear.

might be a good time to also:
Check your insurance policies to make sure you're covered.
If you have more than one vehicle insured, be sure to Stack the policies.

Greg

"policy stacking" please enlighten me. I have all my policies (house, cars, travel trailer) with State Farm. I do get multi policy discount - but wasn't aware of other benefits or "stacking". Save if they hasselled me on one I'd drop them all and go elsewhere.

A few years ago I had a carb backfire and ignite the air filter element, the underside of deck lid began to burn along with the outer edge of the deck lid to body area and misc wiring ,about 25 seconds passed from discovery while driving, stopping the car and shooting out the flames with a extinguisher. I did't have one on board either as I was "just out road testing"
Lucky for me a Highway Dept truck happened along within seconds of me stopping ...I DO carry one now.
BTY source of the fire was a cracked rotor that allowed for the center brass contact to offset and screw up the ignition firing within the cap.

"Carbs backfire " for a .... reason

Timing...distributor not tight

Not maintaining a proper valve adjustment

Fuel mixture / carb sync

Points loose or gone bad

Broken rotor or cap

...Or my all time favorite I see all the time at VW show, routing of a plastic fuel line filter next to the coil.

Bottom line: With any hand crafted vehicle...Should it be a Speedster, Street Rod etc, it is up the the car owner to constantly check and recheck safety related items and not place the blame a third party.
___________________________________________________________________
I cetainly don't feel that this post being in "Vendor Specific" is right....hence a really cheap shot.
____________________________________________________________________

Greg : "policy stacking" a very good point...per my wife the Insurance Agent"!

What a tragedy!
I have no experience with a car of my own catching fire, but as a fireman I've seen several VWs with what looks like fire throughout the engine compartment.
The best guess I have is the rubber fuel line gets sloppy when it's old and hot. Under pressure, that's a potential fire, and, being rubber, it'll unsleeve itself and flow fuel over the cylinders on the driver's side first. Since airflow is down over the cylinders ...
I'm guessing the driver knows about the fire AFTER the people behind him in traffic.
Thanks for posting that series of photos. I'll be going with the best grade of fuel line I can find.
I'm also going to ask USAA about policy stacking. I've never heard of that, but it's got to be worth a shot. They already have a stack of images from the rebuild, and have told me they'll give me enough for replacement that I'll be able to get the much-lauded 550 or a '61 SC.
Damn shame, though. Hate to see anybody's Speedster burned up.

Rick, I don't think David was wrong with his words....
you made it sound like VS was somehow to blame for what happened to that car.....and/or that the Mex motor was sold underhandedly....
Most of us think that Kirk is a stand-up guy, it has been proven over and over again, so for you to badmouth him with this flimsy story is not right......for you to get pissed because every one of us don't have the same sympathy you feel we should is also bullshit....
nobody wants to lose a "favorite" car, but your friend should count his blessings that he made it out of the car un-hurt and report it to his insurance company and move on.....
Sorry if I sound a little un-sympathetic, my kids hate that about me too.....but we are talking about a car here........

Alan,
Car was exclusively serviced by VS in John's hands, so that should cover your checklist. Hoses were not worn but I'm sure once the flames erupted they didn't discriminate.
The original webers with a little over 1K miles of use were replaced when the MexCrate blew and according to John, the car never ran right (his receipts should prove that). I didn't mean to cheap shot anyone but was under the impression this was a "Speedstersowners" site, where we could freely express our views (Thanks Theron!).
There were a lot variables here and s%^$t does happen.

Vince, Vince, Vince... We've e-mailed privately and I've always liked your insatiable drive to be "different". I won't waste either yours or my time in responding to your posts but let me say in closing that you probably wouldn't understand either when Paul got a freshly painted lid from VS with a few nose hairs (no forensics)on it...

Rick, Rick, Rick. Its raining and I have nothing better to do....
The only point I am trying to make is that anytime something can go very wrong and its not necessarily the creators fault....
Like you say, SHIT happens........have a good day..........
I gotta go stir up some trouble on my chopper site.....

Vince,
Chopper guys have it worse than kit car guys.
On the chopper site make everyone aware of this:


The Motorcycle Rights Foundation (MRF) is still attempting to work with the EPA on issues arising from the new EPA act that took affect on January 1st 2006. If you don't belong to the MRF, please sign up. They are a great organization striving to protect our rights as riders.

If you would like to give some input regarding the new rules, click here to fill out the survey. Your input will help arm the MRF when working with the EPA.

GregB
The links to the referenced survey are noted here:
http://newsletter.directparts.com/newsletter7.htm

"the new EPA act that took affect on January 1st 2006"

It that action the one addressing excessive sound and emmissions? I know that there's a bill right now Massachusetts House/Senate which covers similar issues.

T.C.

http://newsletter.directparts.com/newsletter7.htm
this newsletter has links to that.

Greg B

I'm sad and unnerved by this. Its Just a shame.


I will be getting a good fire extiguisher and a first aid kit.

I have a carpet set in the trunk, and It's now gona come out. That would make a fire easyer if you had a small spill

I did use stainless steel fuel lines on my car But I suspect a fuel spill was the culpret. in this case.

It would also be wise to check the gas cap seal and change my refueling habits to start triple checking the gas cap.

Thanks Greg,

I just can't imagine any Govt. agency taking the risk of an increase in fatalities occurring because of a bill or motion concerning noise abatement being passed.

The "Loud pipes saves lives!" slogan has been around too long and proven itself true too often for anyone to eliminate the practice without offering an immediate alternate.

Whenever a bike is stationary you ALWAYS blip the throttle, sometimes to clear it out, sometimes it's just fun, but a LOT of the times, just to be noticed by the car next to you. It's honestly surprising (and distressing and FRIGHTENEING) how many times the driver in the car right beside you is surprised to SEE you after you rev it a bit.

Windows up, stereo on, air on full, cell in hand, and two front, four side curtain air bags all ready to deploy! Car-cooning at it's finest.

A wonder to behold and a danger to all in his path. The worst is when it's "An American Workin' Man" in a d*mned truck . . . with a Harley eagle on the rear window! Those f#cking IDIOTS are EVERYWHERE!

IMHO


IMHO

Not wanting to get too far off topic but,

I was forced to brake and swerve violently while being squeezed off the road by a middle aged female driver(female mentioned to set the picture). With no more space between the curb, tel. poles etc..I kicked her door. In the end she yelled at me "for being on the road". I don't like her.

Loud pipes irritate lives. And if people don't see quiet bikes, they probably won't see loud ones either. Make bikes abide by the same noise requirements as cars.

"Make bikes abide by the same noise requirements as cars. "

Why, that would be like keeping dogs from wearing light blue and white furry hats . . . . It just cant be done.

Not to be a merc, but Rick, let John know that I'm interested in getting those rear nerf bars from him . . . when he feeling up to it.

I have not been here for a couple days but this sucks! That car was Rick

Luke, tell me about it! Talking about loud pipes...ever heard the freakin' rice burners that kids are using nowadays???.....

Do you mean those Fartcans?

That's a great way to put it!!!